Florida Civic Literacy Test Study Guide

What form does the US government have?

Federal republic with a presidential system.

What was one of the main reasons the English colonists came to the New World?

Seeking religious freedom.

What right are stated in the Declaration of Independence?

The rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What were the reasons the colonists separated from England?

Due to taxation without representation, oppressive laws, and lack of autonomy.

How did the French and Indian War (1763) affect the colonists?

Led to increased taxes and British control, which fueled colonial dissatisfaction.

What was the Virginia House of Burgesses?

The first elected legislative assembly in the American colonies.

What are the three branches of the US government?

legislative, executive, and judicial branches

What is the system of checks and balances of the US government?

Ensures that no single branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to check the powers of the others.

What are the three levels of the US government?

Federal, state, and local.

What are the powers of Congress?

Congress has the powers to make laws, declare war, and control spending and taxation.

What are the powers of the President?

The President can enforce laws, veto legislation, and serve as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

What are the powers of the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court has the power to interpret laws and declare laws unconstitutional.

What was the "Great Compromise"?

The Great Compromise established the structure of the United States Congress and how states would be represented in it by establishing a bicameral legislature with two chambers that provided different types of representation for states:
- Senate: Each state would have equal representation in the Senate.
- House of Representatives: Representation in the House would be proportional to each state's population.

How are the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate chosen?

Representatives are elected by the people of their districts, while Senators are elected by the people of their states.

How are the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate allocated?

House members are allocated based on state population, while each state has two Senators regardless of population.

What is the process of Presidential succession?

It outlines who becomes President if the current President is unable to serve, starting with the Vice President.

What is the Electoral College?

The body that elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

What is "gerrymandering"?

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular party or group.

What is the "separation and church doctrine?"

The separation of church and state doctrine ensures that government remains neutral in religious matters.

What was "Shays' Rebellion" about?

Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising in 1786-87 led by farmers protesting economic injustices and lack of government support.

What are two holidays that honor the members of the armed forces?

Memorial Day and Veterans Day honor members of the armed forces.

From where does the US government get its power?

The US government derives its power from the consent of the governed, as stated in the Constitution.

Where was the original capital of the US?

The original capital of the US was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What is "common law"?

Common law is a legal system based on judicial decisions and precedents rather than written statutes.

What is the US judicial system based on?

The US judicial system is based on principles of common law and the Constitution.

Which is the supreme law of the United States?

The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States.

How many amendments does the US Constitution have?

The US Constitution has 27 amendments.

What are the first ten amendments called?

The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights.

First Amendment

The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

Second Amendment

The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.

Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Fifth Amendment

The Fifth Amendment provides protection against self-incrimination and guarantees due process.

Sixth Amendment

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a fair trial and legal representation.

Seventh Amendment

The Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases.

Eighth Amendment

The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

Ninth Amendment

The Ninth Amendment states that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not mean that others do not exist.

Tenth Amendment

The Tenth Amendment states that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.

Thirteenth Amendment (significance)

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.

Fourteenth Amendment (significance, protections)

The Fourteenth Amendment provides equal protection under the law and due process to all citizens.

Fifteenth Amendment

The Fifteenth Amendment prohibits denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Nineteenth Amendment

The Nineteenth Amendment grants women the right to vote.

Twenty-sixth Amendment

The Twenty-sixth Amendment lowers the voting age to 18.

How can the Constitution be changed?

The Constitution can be changed through the amendment process outlined in Article V.

Which amendment has been repealed?

The Twenty-first Amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, which had established Prohibition.

What is the purpose of the Preamble of the US Constitution?

The Preamble outlines the goals and purposes of the Constitution, including establishing justice and securing liberty.

What does "full faith and credit" mean?

"Full faith and credit" requires states to recognize and enforce the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

Where was the Constitution signed?

The Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What is the "common clause"?

The "common clause" refers to the clause in Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution that guarantees a republican form of government to each state.

What is the "elastic clause"?

The "elastic clause" allows Congress to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its powers.

Magna Carta

The Magna Carta limited the power of the king and laid the foundation for modern democracy and rule of law.

English Bill of Rights

The English Bill of Rights established parliamentary sovereignty and protected individual rights.

Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact was an early agreement for self-government by the Pilgrims in the New World.

"Common Sense"

"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine argued for American independence from Britain and influenced public opinion.

Abigail Adams letter to John Adams

Abigail Adams' letter urged her husband to "remember the ladies" in the new laws of the land.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

The Virginia Declaration of Rights outlined individual rights and inspired the Bill of Rights.

Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence proclaimed the colonies' freedom from Britain and outlined the principles of liberty and equality.

The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers were essays written to support the ratification of the Constitution.

Federalist Paper 10

Federalist Paper 10, written by James Madison, argues for the benefits of a large republic in controlling factions.

Federalist Paper 51

Federalist Paper 51, written by James Madison, discusses the importance of checks and balances in government.

Federalist Paper 58

Federalist Paper 58, written by James Madison, addresses the balance of power between the House and Senate.

Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States but were eventually replaced due to their weaknesses.

Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution and protects individual liberties.

US Constitution

The US Constitution establishes the framework of the federal government and is the supreme law of the land.

The Treaty of Paris (1783)

The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.

The Northwest Ordinances (1787)

The Northwest Ordinances established a process for creating new states and managing western territories.

John Locke's "Two Treatises of Government"

John Locke's work argued for natural rights and the social contract theory, influencing American political thought.

Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states during the Civil War.

"I Have A Dream Speech" (Dr. Martin Luther King)

Dr. Martin Luther King's speech called for racial equality and justice during the Civil Rights Movement.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Civil Rights Act of 1965

The Civil Rights Act of 1965 aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting practices.

Engel v. Vitale

Engel v. Vitale ruled that school-sponsored prayer in public schools is unconstitutional.

D.C. v. Heller

D.C. v. Heller affirmed an individual's right to possess firearms unconnected with service in a militia.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier held that school officials can censor school-sponsored student publications.

Mapp v. Ohio

Mapp v. Ohio established that evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court.

Marbury v. Madison

Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland

McCulloch v. Maryland confirmed the supremacy of federal law over state law and upheld the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States.

Miranda v. Arizona

Miranda v. Arizona established the requirement for police to inform suspects of their rights during interrogation.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Tinker v. Des Moines ruled that students have free speech rights in public schools as long as it does not disrupt school operations.

U.S. v. Nixon

U.S. v. Nixon held that the President is not above the law and must comply with judicial subpoenas.

Regents of the U. of California v. Bakke

Regents of the U. of California v. Bakke ruled that racial quotas in university admissions are unconstitutional but allowed for affirmative action.

Schenck v. US

Schenck v. US established that free speech can be limited during times of national emergency or if it poses a clear and present danger.

Texas v. Johnson

Texas v. Johnson protected the right to burn the American flag as a form of free speech.

Gibbons v. Ogden Commerce Clause

Gibbons v. Ogden affirmed the federal government's authority to regulate interstate commerce.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Dred Scott v. Sandford ruled that African Americans could not be considered citizens and were not entitled to rights.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Plessy v. Ferguson upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Brown v Board of Education

Brown v Board of Education declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Baker v. Carr

Baker v. Carr established the principle of "one person, one vote" and allowed federal courts to intervene in redistricting cases.

Roe v. Wade

Roe v. Wade established the right to privacy and legalized abortion.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Gideon v. Wainwright guaranteed the right to legal counsel for defendants in criminal cases who cannot afford an attorney.